Visual wizard launch pad

ABSTRACT

A method for interfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computer system includes providing the plurality of wizards; providing a launch button on a launch pad, the launch button associated with a wizard, where selection of the launch button executes the wizard; and providing information pertaining to the wizard on the launch pad. The information includes a relationship between the wizard and other wizards on the computer system, elements of the computer system affected by the wizard, and/or how to information showing how to use a user interface of an application on the computer system to accomplish a task. The launch pads are interactive interfaces between a user of a computer system and wizards which exist on the computer system. The information is provided in the form of text and/or visual objects. The user has an overview of the complete process before the execution of each wizard.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to computer systems, and more particularlyto graphical user interfaces in computer systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many software applications provide “wizards” to guide and assist usersto perform specific tasks through the applications. Several wizards mayalso exist for each application. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventionalworkstation or computer which has wizards. Several wizards 102 exist onthe computer 104. The user 106 must know which of the wizards 102 toexecute to perform a particular function. However, frequently severaltasks, each with its own wizard, must be executed in order to performthe function. In this situation, the user 106 must know which wizards102 to execute, how the wizards 102 relate to each other, and in whichorder the wizards 102 are to be executed in order to perform thefunction properly.

For example, assume that the user 106 wishes to replicate data in adatabase system. In order to do so, the user 106 need to perform fourtasks: setup, define the source, define the subscription, and capture orapply. Assume also that there is a wizard 102 for each of these tasks.In order to perform the replication, the user 106 must execute the setupwizard, the define source wizard, the define subscription wizard, andthe capture/apply wizard, in this order. However, the user 106 may be anovice or unfamiliar with the database system, or may be dealing with acomplex database system. Thus, the user 106 may not understand thesystem enough to know which wizards 102 to execute and when. The user106 may not even know what wizards 102 exist to help him/her perform thereplication function. The user 106 must then expend time and energy tolearn or discover how to use the wizards. This leads to a high risk ofmistakes and a loss of productivity which increases costs to thedatabase owner.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a method for providing an improvedinterface between a user and wizards in a computer system. The presentinvention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for interfacing with a pluralityof wizards in a computer system. The method includes providing theplurality of wizards; providing a launch button on a launch pad, thelaunch button associated with a wizard, wherein selection of the launchbutton executes the wizard; and providing information pertaining to thewizard on the launch pad. The information includes a relationshipbetween the wizard and other wizards on the computer system, elements ofthe computer system affected by the wizard, and/or how to informationshowing how to use a user interface of an application on the computersystem to accomplish a task. The present invention provides launch padsas interactive interfaces between a user of a computer system andwizards which exist on the computer system. In a preferred embodiment,the launch pads comprise links to wizards available for the performanceof a particular task. A user may interface with the launch pad to obtaininformation associated with each wizard. and also to execute thewizards. The information is provided in the form of text and/or visualobjects. The text and visual objects assist the user in understandingthe function of each wizard, the relationships between the wizards, andthe order in which they should be executed in order to perform the taskproperly. The user has an overview of the complete process before theexecution of each wizard. The user may perform functions more quicklyand with less mistakes, boosting his/her productivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional workstation or computer which haswizards.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for providing an interfacewith wizards in a computer system in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a first preferred embodiment of amethod for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 4A through 4E illustrate an example launch pad in accordance withthe present invention.

FIGS. 5A through 5F illustrate an example launch pad with “how to”graphics in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a second preferred embodiment ofa method for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a third preferred embodiment of amethod for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a method for providing an improvedinterface between a user and wizards in a computer system. The followingdescription is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art tomake and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patentapplication and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferredembodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and thegeneric principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, thepresent invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shownbut is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principlesand features described herein.

The method in accordance with the present invention provides launch padson the display of a computer system as interactive interfaces between auser and wizards which exist on the computer system. To moreparticularly describe the features of the present invention, pleaserefer to FIGS. 2 through 6 in conjunction with the discussion below.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for providing an interfacewith wizards in a computer system in accordance with the presentinvention. First, a link on a launch pad is provided, via step 202. Thelink is associated with a wizard. Selection of the link would launch orexecute the wizard. Then, information pertaining to the wizard isprovided on the launch pad, via step 204.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a first preferred embodiment of amethod for providing an interface with a plurality of wizards in acomputer system in accordance with the present invention. First, linkson a launch pad 302 is provided, via step 202. The links on the launchpad 302 link to the plurality of wizards 304 which exist on the computer306. Computer software may exist on the computer 306 which provides thelaunch pad 302. But one of ordinary skill in the art will understandthat the software may also exist in other places, such as a server,without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.When the user 308 interfaces with the launch pad 302, informationpertaining to each wizard 304 is provided, via step 204.

In the preferred embodiment, the launch pad 302 is provided when theuser initiates an application. The links may be launch buttons, eachbutton being associated with a wizard. The launch buttons allow the user308 to determine which wizards 304 are available for the application. Toobtain a description of a wizard, the user 308 may hover a pointingdevice, such as a mouse, over the associated launch button. The wizardmay then be activated by a mouse click on the launch button. Through thedescriptions of the wizards, the user 308 is guided to the correct orderin which to execute the wizards 304 and given information as to theeffect of each wizard.

FIGS. 4A through 4E illustrate an example launch pad in accordance withthe present invention. In this example, assume that the user 308 wishesto replicate data in a complex database system. The user 308 initiatesthe replication application, which in turn initiates the replicationlaunch pad 400, illustrated in FIG. 4A. The replication launch pad 400comprises a brief description of the replication process 402 and links,or launch buttons 404 a-404 d. Each launch button 404 a-404 d links to awizard which pertains to a task required for data replication. The“Replication Setup” launch button 404 a links to the replication setupwizard; the “Define Source” launch button 404 b links to the definesource wizard; the “Define Subscription” launch button 404 c links tothe define subscription wizard; and the “Apply/Capture” launch button404 d links to the apply/capture wizard. Although the launch buttons 404a-404 d are shown displayed vertically, they may be displayed in anyconfiguration without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. With each launch button 404 a-404 d is a short description ofthe task which each wizard will help the user 308 perform. The user 308may obtain more information about each wizard by positioning the mousepointer over a launch button.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the user can position the mousepointer over the “Replication Setup” button 404 a. A brief description406 of the replication setup wizard appears, explaining the task whichthis wizard will assist the user 308 to perform, and the effect on thedatabase system. To help the user 308, visual objects 408 a-408 k may beused to graphically illustrate the effect of the wizard. “Visualobjects”, as used in this specification, refer to graphical elementswhich represent hardware and/or software elements of an applicationaffected by the execution of a wizard. In this example, visual objects408 a and 408 b represent the source in the database system; visualobject 408 c represents a log; visual object 408 d represents a changedata table; visual objects 408 e-408 g represent the target; and visualobject 408 h represents the control tables. Visual Object 408 i, in theform of a shaded area, illustrates the elements in the database systemwhich is affected by the capture process, i.e., the log 408 c, changedata table 408 d, and control tables 408 h. The visual object 408 j, inthe form of another shaded area, illustrates the elements in thedatabase system which is affected by the apply process, i.e., the changedata table 408 d, the target 408 e-408 g, and the control tables 408 h.Visual objects 408 k, in the form of arrows, illustrate the process flowor interaction among the affected elements. Thus, in FIG. 4B, inaddition to providing the description 406, visual objects 408 a, 408 c,408 d, 408 h, 408 i and 408 j are highlighted to illustrate that theseelements of the database system are affected by the replication setupprocess.

As illustrated in FIG. 4C, when the user 308 positions the pointer overthe Define Source launch button 404 b, a short description 410 of thedefine source wizard appears, and visual objects 408 a, 408 b, and 408 jare highlighted. As illustrated in FIG. 4D, when the user 308 positionsthe pointer over the Define Subscription launch button 404 c, a shortdescription 412 of the define subscription wizard appears, and visualobjects 408 d-408 g are highlighted. As illustrated in FIG. 4E, when theuser 308 positions the pointer over the Apply/Capture launch button 404d, a short description 414 of the apply/capture wizard appears, andvisual objects 408 a-408 j are highlighted. To further assist the user308, the launch buttons 404 a-404 d are placed in the order in which thewizards should be executed to perform the replication function. The user308 may then click on the launch buttons 404 a-404 d to execute thewizards.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4E, the launch pad 400 in accordance with thepresent invention provides the user 308 with the high level conceptspertaining to the function the user 308 is interested in performing.Because the launch pad 400 is interactive in nature, its use isintuitive for the user, which speeds the learning of the high levelconcepts provided. With the information provided by the launch pad 400,the user 308 knows which wizards are available for a particular.function, the order in which these wizards should be executed, how eachwizard relates to the others, and what system elements are affected byeach wizard. The user 308 may perform the function more quickly and withless mistakes, boosting his/her productivity.

Although the present invention is described in the context of a databasesystem, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the launchpad provided via the method in accordance with the present invention maybe used in any context without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention. Although the present invention is described withthe illustrated visual objects, one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that other visual objects maybe used without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, instead ofusing shaded areas to indicate affected elements of the system, othertypes of indicators may be used, including animated visual objects.

Additional objects may be provided in the launch pad to help a userunderstand the low level steps involved in a task associated with awizard in accordance with the present invention. For purposes of thisdiscussion, these objects will be referred to as “how to” information.In the preferred embodiment, the “how to” information are screen grabsof the user interface that show the user how to use the regular userinterface of an application (not the launch pad) in order to accomplishthe low level task. However, “how to” information may also be any othertype of object, such as a sound clip or a textual description. When theuser positions the mouse over the launch buttons, the graphic changes togive the user information about the low level task to be performed. Abutton or toggle may be used to change between the launch pad viewillustrated in FIGS. 4A-4E, referred to herein as the conceptual view,and the “how to” information.

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate an example launch pad with “how to” informationin accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, theuser can position the mouse pointer over the “Define a subject area”button 502 a. The “how to” information 504 a are then shown. Theseinformation indicate to the user that in order to define a subject area,the user must select the “subject Area” folder 506, bring up the contextmenu 508 for the folder 506, and click on the “Create Subject Area”option 510. Text 512 a may also be shown to further describe the lowlevel task. In the preferred embodiment, a thumbnail 514 of theconceptual launch pad view is provided, where when the user selects thethumbnail 514, the launch pad returns the user to the conceptual view.Other methods may be used to change between the conceptual and the “howto” view, such as a toggle button.

Similarly, as illustrated in FIGS. 5B-5F, the user can also position themouse pointer over the other buttons 502 b-502 f, which will show therespective “how to” information 504 b-f and their text 512 b-512 f. Anytype of objects may be used as “how to” information. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 5E, “how to” information can show the movement of anobject 516 from a toolbar to a modeling canvas 518.

Although the preferred embodiment is described as toggling the userbetween the conceptual view and the “how to” information, one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that they may be displayed inother configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. For example, both views may be displayedsimultaneously in the same or separate window.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a second preferred embodiment ofa method for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system inaccordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the wizardsavailable on the computer 606 are organized into groups 604 a-604 cbased upon a predetermined criteria, such as function. A plurality oflaunch pads 602 a-602 c are used to link to each group 604 a-604 c ofwizards. For example, the group 604 a may be wizards which pertain tothe process of creating a new database in the system, the group 604 bmay be wizards which pertain to the process of data replication, and thegroup 604 c may be wizards which pertain to the deletion of records froma database in the database system. In this embodiment, when the user 308initiates one of the processes, the corresponding launch pad 602 a, 602b, or 602 c, is in turn initiated. The user 308 may be then interactwith each launch pad 602 a-602 c in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a third preferred embodiment of amethod for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system inaccordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a main menu702 of launch pads is provided to the user 308 with which the user 308may select the function-specific launch pad 602 a-602 c.

The launch pads provided to the user 308 may be predefined. However, toprovide flexibility, a toolkit may be provided as well to enabledevelopers to build their own launch pads.

A method for providing an interface with wizards in a computer systemhas been disclosed. The method in accordance with the present inventionprovides launch pads as interactive interfaces between a user of acomputer system and wizards which exist on the computer system. Thelaunch pads comprise links to wizards available for the performance of aparticular task. The user interfaces with the launch pad to obtaininformation associated with each wizard and also to execute the wizards.The information is provided in the form of text and/or visual objects.The text and visual objects assist the user in understanding thefunction of each wizard, the relationships between the wizards, and theorder in which they should be executed in order to perform the taskproperly. The user has an overview of the complete process before theexecution of each wizard. The user may perform tasks more quickly andwith less mistakes, boosting his/her productivity.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with theembodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and thosevariations would be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for interfacing with a plurality ofwizards in a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) providing theplurality of wizards; (b) providing a launch button on a launch pad, thelaunch button associated with a wizards, wherein selection of the launchbutton executes the wizards; (c) providing a high-level visual overviewof a process of a process corresponding to the plurality of wizards onthe launch pad before a user selects the lunch button to execute thewizard, wherein the high-level overview comprises a relationship betweenthe wizard and other wizard on the computer system wherein thehigh-level visual overview comprises a visual object for togglingbetween a conceptual view and a how to information, and the how toinformation shows how to use a user interface of an application on thecomputer system to accomplish a task.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe providing step (c) comprises: (c1) providing information pertainingto the wizard when a pointer is positioned over the link.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the high-level visual overview further comprises atleast one of: a description of a function of the wizard; an order inwhich the wizard and the other wizards should be executed; elements ofthe computer system affected by the wizard.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the how to information comprises at least one of: graphics; asound chip; and a textual description.
 5. A method for interfacing witha plurality of wizards in a computer system, comprising the steps of:(a) providing the plurality of wizards; (b) providing a launch button ona launch pad, the launch button associated with a wizard, whereinselection of the launch button executes the wizard; and (c) providing ahigh-level overview of a process corresponding to the plurality ofwizards on the launch pad before a user selects the launch button toexecute the wizard, wherein the high-level visual overview compriseselements of the computer system affected by the wizard wherein thehigh-level visual overview comprises a visual object for togglingbetween a conceptual view and a how to information, and the how toinformation shows how to use a user interface of an application on thecomputer system to accomplish a task.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinthe providing step (c) comprises: (c1) providing information pertainingto the wizard when a pointer is positioned over the link.
 7. The methodof claim 5, wherein the high-level visual overview comprises textcomprising a description of the wizard.
 8. The method of claim 5,wherein the high-level visual overview comprises a visual object,wherein the visual object is a graphical element which representshardware and/or software elements of an application on the computersystem which is affected by an execution of the wizard.
 9. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the high-level visual overview further comprises atleast one of: a description of a function of the wizard; a relationshipbetween the wizard and other wizards on the computer system; an order inwhich the wizard and the other wizards should be executed.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the how to information comprises at least oneof: graphics; a sound chip; and a textual description.
 11. A method forinterfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computer system, comprisingthe steps of: (a) providing the plurality of wizards; (b) providing alaunch button on a launch pad, the launch button associated with awizard, wherein selection of the launch button executes the wizard; and(c) providing a high-level visual overview of a process corresponding tothe plurality of wizards on the launch pad before a user selects thelaunch button to execute the wizard, wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises how to information showing how to use a userinterface of an application on the computer system to accomplish a task;wherein the high-level visual overview comprises a visual object fortoggling between a conceptual view and a how to information, and the howto information shows how to use a user interface of an application onthe computer system to accomplish a task.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the how to information comprises at least one of: graphics; asound chip; and a textual description.
 13. The method of claim 11,wherein the high-level visual overview further comprises at least oneof: a description of a function of the wizard; a relationship betweenthe wizard and other wizards on the computer system; an order in whichthe wizard and the other wizards should be executed; and elements of thecomputer system affected by the wizard.
 14. A computer readable mediumwith program instructions for interfacing with a plurality of wizards ina computer system, the instructions for: (a) providing the plurality ofwizards; (b) providing a launch button on a launch pad, the launchbutton associated with a wizard, wherein selection of the launch buttonexecutes the wizard; and (c) providing a high-level visual overview of aprocess corresponding to the plurality of wizards on the launch padbefore a user selects the launch button to execute the wizard, whereinthe high-level visual overview comprises a relationship between thewizard and other wizards on the computer system; wherein the high-levelvisual overview comprises a visual object for toggling between aconceptual view and a how to information, and the how to informationshows how to use a user interface of an application on the computersystem to accomplish a task.
 15. The medium of claim 14, wherein theproviding instruction (c) comprises: (c1) providing informationpertaining to the wizard when a pointer is positioned over the link. 16.The medium of claim 14, wherein the high-level visual overview furthercomprises at least one of: a description of a function of the wizard; anorder in which the wizard and the other wizards should be executed;elements of the computer system affected by the wizard.
 17. The mediumof claim 16, wherein the how to information comprises at least one of:graphics; a sound chip; and a textual description.
 18. A computerreadable medium with program instructions for interfacing with aplurality of wizards in a computer system, the instructions for: (a)providing the plurality of wizards; (b) providing a launch button on alaunch pad, the launch button associated with a wizard, whereinselection of the launch button executes the wizard; and (c) providing ahigh-level visual overview of a process corresponding to the pluralityof wizards on the launch pad before a user selects the launch button toexecute the wizard, wherein the high-level visual overview compriseselements of the computer system affected by the wizard; wherein thehigh-level visual overview comprises a visual object for togglingbetween a conceptual view and a how to information, and the how toinformation shows how to use a user interface of an application on thecomputer system to accomplish a task.
 19. The medium of claim 18,wherein the providing instruction (c) comprises: (c1) providinginformation pertaining to the wizard when a pointer is positioned overthe link.
 20. The medium of claim 18, wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises text comprising a description of the wizard.
 21. Themedium of claim 18, wherein the high-level visual overview comprises avisual object, wherein the visual object is a graphical element whichrepresents hardware and/or software elements of an application on thecomputer system which is affected by an execution of the wizard.
 22. Themedium of claim 18, wherein the high-level visual overview furthercomprises at least one of: a description of a function of the wizard; arelationship between the wizard and other wizards on the computersystem; an order in which the wizard and the other wizards should beexecuted.
 23. The medium of claim 22, wherein the how to informationcomprises at least one of: graphics; a sound chip; and a textualdescription.
 24. A computer readable medium with program instructionsfor interfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computer system, theinstructions for: (a) providing the plurality of wizards; (b) providinga launch button on a launch pad, the launch button associated with awizard, wherein selection of the launch button executes the wizard; and(c) providing a high-level visual overview of a process corresponding tothe plurality of wizards on the launch pad before a user selects thelaunch button to execute the wizard, wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises how to information showing how to use a userinterface of an application on the computer system to accomplish a task;wherein the high-level visual overview comprises a visual object fortoggling between a conceptual view and a how to information, and the howto information shows how to use a user interface of an application onthe computer system to accomplish a task.
 25. The medium of claim 24,wherein the how to information comprises at least one of: graphics; asound chip; and a textual description.
 26. The medium of claim 24,wherein the high-level visual overview further comprises at least oneof: a description of a function of the wizard; a relationship betweenthe wizard and other wizards on the computer system; an order in whichthe wizard and the other wizards should be executed; and elements of thecomputer system affected by the wizard.
 27. A method for interfacingwith a plurality of wizards in a computer system, comprising the stepsof: (a) providing a plurality of launch pads on a display of thecomputer system; (b) receiving a selection of one of the plurality oflaunch pads, wherein the selected launch pad is associated with a groupof wizards; (c) providing a launch button on the selected launch pad,the launch button associated with a wizard, wherein selection of thelaunch button executes the wizard; and (d) providing a high-level visualoverview on the selected launch pad of a process corresponding to thegroup of wizards associated with the selected launch pad before a userselects the launch button to execute the wizard, wherein the high-levelvisual overview comprises a relationship between the wizard and otherwizards on the computer system; wherein the high-level visual overviewcomprises a visual object for toggling between a conceptual view and ahow to information, and the how to information shows how to use a userinterface of an application on the computer system to accomplish a task.28. A method for interfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computersystem, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of launchpads on a display of the computer system; (b) receiving a selection ofone of the plurality of launch pads, wherein the selected launch pad isassociated with a group of wizards; (c) providing a launch button on theselected launch pad, the launch button associated with a wizard, whereinselection of the launch button executes the wizard; and (d) providing ahigh-level visual overview on the selected launch pad of a processcorresponding to the group of wizards associated with the selectedlaunch pad before a user selects the launch button to execute thewizard, wherein the high-level visual overview comprises elements of thecomputer system affected by the wizard wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises a visual object for toggling between a conceptualview and a how to information, and the how to information shows how touse a user interface of an application on the computer system toaccomplish a task.
 29. A method for interfacing with a plurality ofwizards in a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) providing aplurality of launch pads on a display of the computer system; (b)receiving a selection of one of the plurality of launch pads, whereinthe selected launch pad is associated with a group of wizards; (c)providing a launch button on the selected launch pad, the launch buttonassociated with a wizard, wherein selection of the launch buttonexecutes the wizard; and (d) providing a high-level visual overview onthe selected launch pad of a process corresponding to the group ofwizards associated with the selected launch pad before a user selectsthe launch button to execute the wizard, wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises how to information showing how to use a userinterface of an application on the computer system to accomplish a task;wherein the high-level visual overview comprises a visual object fortoggling between a conceptual view and a how to information, and the howto information shows how to use a user interface of an application onthe computer system to accomplish a task.
 30. A computer readable mediumwith program instructions for interfacing with a plurality of wizards ina computer system, the instructions for: (a) providing a plurality oflaunch pads on a display of the computer system; (b) receiving aselection of one of the plurality of launch pads, wherein the selectedlaunch pad is associated with a group of wizards; (c) providing a launchbutton on the selected launch pad, the launch button associated with awizard, wherein selection of the launch button executes the wizard; and(d) providing a high-level visual overview on the selected launch pad ofa process corresponding to the group of wizards associated with theselected launch pad before a user selects the launch button to executethe wizard, wherein the high-level visual overview comprises arelationship between the wizard and other wizards on the computersystem; wherein the high-level visual overview comprises a visual objectfor toggling between a conceptual view and a how to information, and thehow to information shows how to use a user interface of an applicationon the computer system to accomplish a task.
 31. A computer readablemedium with program instructions for interfacing with a plurality ofwizards in a computer system, the instructions for: (a) providing aplurality of launch pads on a display of the computer system; (b)receiving a selection of one of the plurality of launch pads, whereinthe selected launch pad is associated with a group of wizards; (c)providing a launch button on the selected launch pad, the launch buttonassociated with a wizard, wherein selection of the launch buttonexecutes the wizard; and (d) providing a high-level visual overview onthe selected launch pad of a process corresponding to the group ofwizards associated with the selected launch pad before a user selectsthe launch button to execute the wizard, wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises elements of the computer system affected by thewizard; wherein the high-level visual overview comprises a visual objectfor toggling between a conceptual view and a how to information, and thehow to information shows how to use a user interface of an applicationon the computer system to accomplish a task.
 32. A computer readablemedium with program instructions for interfacing with a plurality ofwizards in a computer system, the instructions for: (a) providing aplurality of launch pads on a display of the computer system; (b)receiving a selection of one of the plurality of launch pads, whereinthe selected launch pad is associated with a group of wizards; (c)providing a launch button on the selected launch pad, the launch buttonassociated with a wizard, wherein selection of the launch buttonexecutes the wizard; and (d) providing a high-level visual overview onthe selected launch pad of a process corresponding to the group ofwizards associated with the selected launch pad before a user selectsthe launch button to execute the wizard, wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises how to information showing how to use a userinterface of an application on the computer system to accomplish a task;wherein the high-level visual overview further comprises a visual objectfor toggling between a conceptual view and the how to information.
 33. Amethod for interfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computer system,comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of launch pads on adisplay of the computer system; (b) providing a menu of the plurality oflaunch pads on the display; (c) receiving a selection of one of theplurality of launch pads from the menu, wherein the selected launch padis associated with a group of wizards; (d) providing a launch button onthe selected launch pad, the launch button associated with a wizard,wherein selection of the launch button executes the wizard; and (e)providing a high-level visual overview on the selected launch pad of aprocess corresponding to the group of wizards associated with theselected launch pad before a user selects the launch button to executethe wizard, wherein the high-level visual overview comprises arelationship between the wizard and other wizards on the computersystem; wherein the high-level visual overview comprises a visual objectfor toggling between a conceptual view and a how to information, and thehow to information shows how to use a user interface of an applicationon the computer system to accomplish a task.
 34. A method forinterfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computer system, comprisingthe steps of: (a) providing a plurality of launch pads on a display ofthe computer system; (b) providing a menu of the plurality of launchpads on the display; (c) receiving a selection of one of the pluralityof launch pads from the menu, wherein the selected launch pad isassociated with a group of wizards; (d) providing a launch button on theselected launch pad, the launch button associated with a wizard, whereinselection of the launch button executes the wizard; and (e) providing ahigh-level visual overview on the selected launch pad of a processcorresponding to the group of wizards associated with the selectedlaunch pad before a user selects the launch button to execute thewizard, wherein the high-level visual overview comprises elements of thecomputer system affected by the wizard; wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises a visual object for toggling between a conceptualview and a how to information, and the how to information shows how touse a user interface of an application on the computer system -toaccomplish a task.
 35. A method for interfacing with a plurality ofwizards in a computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) providing aplurality of launch pads on a display of the computer system; (b)providing a menu of the plurality of launch pads on the display; (c)receiving a selection of one of the plurality of launch pads from themenu, wherein the selected launch pad is associated with a group ofwizards; (d) providing a launch button on the selected launch pad, thelaunch button associated with a wizard, wherein selection of the launchbutton executes the wizard; and (e) providing a high-level visualoverview on the selected launch pad of a process corresponding to thegroup of wizards associated with the selected launch pad before a userselects the launch button to execute the wizard, wherein the high-levelvisual overview comprises how to information showing how to use a userinterface of an application on the computer system to accomplish a task;wherein the high-level visual overview further comprises a visual objectfor toggling between a conceptual view and the how to information.
 36. Acomputer readable medium with program instructions for interfacing witha plurality of wizards in a computer system, the instructions for: (a)providing a plurality of launch pads on a display of the computersystem; (b) providing a menu of the plurality of launch pads on thedisplay; (c) receiving a selection of one of the plurality of launchpads from the menu, wherein the selected launch pad is associated with agroup of wizards; (d) providing a launch button on the selected launchpad, the launch button associated with a wizard, wherein selection ofthe launch button executes the wizard; and (e) providing a high-levelvisual overview on the selected launch pad of a process corresponding tothe group of wizards associated with the selected launch pad before auser selects the launch button to execute the wizard, wherein thehigh-level visual overview comprises a relationship between the wizardand other wizards on the computer system; wherein the high-level visualoverview comprises a visual object for toggling between a conceptualview and a how to information, and the how to information shows how touse a user interface of an application on the computer system toaccomplish a task.
 37. A computer readable medium with programinstructions for interfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computersystem, the instructions for: (a) providing a plurality of launch padson a display of the computer system; (b) providing a menu of theplurality of launch pads on the display; (c) receiving a selection ofone of the plurality of launch pads from the menu, wherein the selectedlaunch pad is associated with a group of wizards; (d) providing a launchbutton on the selected launch pad, the launch button associated with awizard, wherein selection of the launch button executes the wizard; and(e) providing a high-level visual overview on the selected launch pad ofa process corresponding to the group of wizards associated with theselected launch pad before a user selects the launch button to executethe wizard, wherein the high-level visual overview comprises elements ofthe computer system affected by the wizard; wherein the high-levelvisual overview comprises a visual object for toggling between aconceptual view and a how to information, and the how to informationshows how to use a user interface of an application on the computersystem to accomplish a task.
 38. A computer readable medium with programinstructions for interfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computersystem, the instructions for: (a) providing a plurality of launch padson a display of the computer system; (b) providing a menu of theplurality of launch pads on the display; (c) receiving a selection ofone of the plurality of launch pads from the menu, wherein the selectedlaunch pad is associated with a group of wizards; (d) providing a launchbutton on the selected launch pad, the launch button associated with awizard, wherein selection of the launch button executes the wizard; and(e) providing a high-level visual overview on the selected launch pad ofa process corresponding to the group of wizards associated with theselected launch pad before a user selects the launch button to executethe wizard, wherein the high-level visual overview comprises how toinformation showing how to use a user interface of an application on thecomputer system to accomplish a task; wherein the high-level visualoverview further comprises a visual object for toggling between aconceptual view and the how to information.